Goals either side of half-time from Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku, as well as a late screamer from Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne, was enough to seal a routine 3-0 victory for the Red Devils in the Euro 2020 qualifier in Brussels.

In truth, Scotland only really managed one serious effort on goal throughout the 90 minutes but Clarke was upbeat as he faced the media after the final whistle.

Speaking via the BBC, the ex-Kilmarnock boss said: “It was difficult game for us.

“I don’t think we deserved the third goal at the end and I could say the second goal was offside, which could have changed things.

“My overall impression is that I have a good group of players who are committed to their country.

“They were competitive in the game against the number one team in the world.

“We have shown in the work done in this 10-day camp, but we need improvements. We need to be better on the ball, but we have grown as a group.

“We need to be ready to go again against two good sides again in the Autumn.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Clarke and Scotland, who will host Russia in their next qualifier in September, before a daunting rematch with the Belgians in Glasgow just three days later.

But do you think Clarke and Scotland have shown enough over the qualifying campaign so far to suggest they will qualify for next summer’s Euros?